morphogen

noun

mor·pho·gen ˈmȯr-fə-jən

-ˌjen

: a diffusible chemical substance that exerts control over morphogenesis especially by forming a gradient in concentration

Examples of morphogen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Each cell in the sheet is programmed to make three pairs of molecules — one pair for each morphogen. —

Quanta Magazine, 5 Apr. 2018 Signaling molecules called morphogens then diffuse through the embryonic tissues, eventually defining the formation of body parts. —

Wired, 24 Mar. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'morphogen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.